City of Waterloo’s Asset Management System wins AMO Gas Tax Award

Ottawa, Ontario, August 15, 2017 – The City of Waterloo has been recognized by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario for investing the federal Gas Tax Fund in its asset management system. The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, along with Lynn Dollin, AMO President, presented the award today to Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky and Councillor Jeff Henry.

The AMO Gas Tax Award is given out each year to municipal governments that demonstrate excellence in the use of the federal Gas Tax Fund. The Awards highlight infrastructure projects that make a difference in our communities by addressing local needs, creating economic growth or achieving environmental outcomes.

The City of Waterloo received the Award for investing more than $700,000 from the federal Gas Tax Fund into an asset management system that will help guide infrastructure investment and maintenance over the next 25 years. Municipalities play a fundamental role in building safe, prosperous and thriving communities. Effective asset management planning is an important part of that work.

“The Government of Canada has committed to working with municipalities to ensure that they are ready for tomorrow’s challenges,” said the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “The federal Gas Tax Fund allows cities like Waterloo to invest in local infrastructure priorities that contribute to long-term economic growth.”

“Waterloo is known for our culture of innovation, and city staff believed they could create a unique asset management system that could even predict asset quality in a given year. Innovative ideas need investment dollars, and that’s where the federal Gas Tax Fund played an enabling role,” said Dave Jaworsky, Mayor of the City of Waterloo. “The predictable annual flow of Gas Tax money allows municipalities to invest in the best opportunities. This new system will help us prioritize our limited dollars to renew our infrastructure in a way that meets the public’s expectations, and will pay dividends for years to come. My congratulations to staff on their entrepreneurial smart-city spirit!”

“As owners of much of our public infrastructure, municipal governments must be able to meet today’s needs and plan for the future,” said Lynn Dollin, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. “Asset management planning is a critical part of ensuring that communities thrive over the long term. Waterloo’s investment should benefit the community for years to come.”

The federal Gas Tax Fund is a permanent and stable source of funding for municipal infrastructure. AMO delivers the Fund to Ontario municipalities, except Toronto, twice a year, on a per capita basis. This approach means that federal funding can address the diverse needs found in all of Ontario’s municipalities. AMO will administer more than $620 million from the Fund in 2017.

AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario’s 444 municipal governments. AMO supports and enhances strong and effective municipal government in Ontario and promotes the value of municipal government as a vital and essential component of Ontario and Canada’s political system.